Lionel Messi will leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires at the end of the month – and he has a big decision to make about his future.
PSG manager Christophe Galtier confirmed on Thursday that Messi won’t sign a contract extension and will therefore become a free agent after June 30. He said: “I had a privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football. It will be Leo’s last match at the Parc des Princes against Clermont."
Messi has contributed 21 goals and 20 assists in 40 appearances this season to help win Ligue 1. Despite turning 36 on June 24 Messi still has plenty to offer the game, meaning it is not just his fame that is attracting new clubs this summer.
Here Mirror Football looks at some of the options open to the Argentina World Cup winner.
Al-Hilal
This is the option that has been generating the most traction of late. As Mirror Football reported on Wednesday, reports in France suggested that Messi’s father, Jorge, who acts as his agent, has agreed a deal worth €1.2billion (£1.04bn) over two years for his son to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.
That would see him eclipse Cristiano Ronaldo, who earns in the region of £173million per year at Al-Nassr, to become by far the highest-earning footballer on the planet. Previous reports suggested Al-Hilal would pay Messi £369m-per-year, but if the latest reports are correct, they have upped their offer.
Messi is already a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia and was suspended by PSG at the start of May after taking an unauthorised trip to the country.
There have been suggestions that his wife Antonela Roccuzzo is reluctant to relocate to the Middle East with the couple’s three young sons, but Al-Hilal are determined and have also made offers to sign Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Marco Verratti to encourage Messi.
Barcelona
Messi was in Barcelona on Sunday to watch Coldplay with Cesc Fabregas instead of attending the Ligue 1 end-of-season awards. That sparked increased speculation that he could be eyeing a return to the club he left in 2021.
Speaking at the time, he explained how reluctant he was to depart in the first place. “We were convinced we were continuing here, at home," he said through tears. "I did all that I could to stay, because I wanted to stay."
The forward contributed 672 goals in 778 games and lifted 35 trophies in his first spell with Barca and club president Joan Laporta recently met with Messi’s father Jorge and is trying hard to find the money for his wages.
Inter Miami
The MLS franchise, who are part-owned by David Beckham and coached by Phil Neville, have made no secret of their desire to sign Messi.
The possible move has been openly discussed by the club’s owners and The Times previously reported they were ‘confident’ of signing him on a deal which would make him the highest-paid player in MLS history.
Messi is known to be a fan of Miami as a place, having holidayed there with his family on several occasions. And a recent report from L’Equipe has outlined a way it could happen, with Inter Miami signing Messi before sending him on loan to Barcelona for 18 months. Messi would then conclude his career in MLS before retiring.
Newell’s Old Boys
The romantic option is for Messi to return home to Argentina. He started his career with Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario and has previously spoken of the possibility of returning one day.
"The desire is always playing for Newell's – it is what I dreamed of as a kid," Messi told TyC Sports five years ago. "When I went to the club I imagined playing in the Primera Division, but I do not know what's going to happen in a few years. I cannot say I'm going back because I do not know where I'm going to be."
That option perhaps seems a little unlikely now, considering his other offers, but a homecoming in the future cannot be ruled out.
